Little Steps Montessori School
OUR PROVEN CURRICULUM
The Montessori curriculum is designed and referred to as a Cosmic Education, an integrated, thematic approach that examines the physical universe, the world of nature, and the human experience. Through its unique approach to education, the Montessori curriculum develops a students sense of community and love of learning driven by their innate desire to understand and explain the world around them. In this approach at the Academy, we challenge students not only to master skills, but to regularly apply them in practical life as part of a larger whole. As a result, our students attain proficiency in an astounding range of concepts in depth.
We offer a variety of programs to meet your childcare needs.
The primary curriculum is divided into five basic areas:
Practical Life
Practical Life is the cornerstone of the environment. These lessons are presented first to the child to form a foundation for the other areas of the environment. Practical life exercises are the child’s introduction to the prepared environment of the Montessori classroom.
Sensorial
Through the sensorial area, the child is given the facilities to make clear concepts and classifications for all the information she has gathered thus far through her sensory perceptions. The sensorial materials help to order the child’s mind by isolating and emphasizing one quality at a time (i.e. size, gradation). Through the physical manipulation of materials in this area, the child begins to categorize and order the objects in their world, leading to increased understanding of their role in the universe.
Language
Language exercises are offered to the child initially as an aid to the child’s own developmental process for language. By age 3, the child has already mastered basic spoken language. When the child enters the Primary Montessori classroom, the materials of language offered to the child will simply add to the foundation the child has already made through self construction. During the primary cycle, she will go through three stages of language: expansion of vocabulary, writing, and reading.
Mathematics
By nature, everyone is mathematical. We are all born with a mathematical mind, which isn’t something that we create, but something we need to awaken it into consciousness. Through exercises offered to the child, the child prepares for the emergence of the mathematical mind that exists within him or her.
Cultural Activities
Cultural areas include art, biology, geography, history, music, science and foreign language. In the primary program, children will be exposed to these cultural activities within the realm of their prepared environment.